Illuminated doll

ABSTRACT

A lens assembly for a doll with an illuminated torso, including a light-diffusing layer formed from a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies. The assembly may also include a translucent window configured in a shape of a part of the torso, and the light-diffusing layer may be interposed between the translucent window and a light source inside the torso.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/874,328 filed on Sep. 5, 2013 and entitled ILLUMINATED DOLL, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to dolls and electronic toys. More particularly, this disclosure relates to light assemblies for dolls and toys that include a light source and one or more optical elements to diffuse or refract light, for example, to provide dynamic visual effects. The optical elements collectively define a lens assembly for a doll with an illuminated torso.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Dolls and toys may include dynamic or animated elements that provide interest during play. For example, a doll or action figure may include a light source such as a battery-powered LED. For another example, an electronic board game may include LED lights embedded in the game board and turned on or off by events occurring during game play. Such features may be controlled or animated by switches and associated electronic devices.

Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,037, U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,394, U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,638, U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,090, U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,401, U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,319, U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,782, U.S. Pat. No. 2,605,385, and U.S. Pat. No. 1485641; and in published patent applications US20120088434, US20120052763, and W01993023128. The disclosures of these and all other publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. In the event that any of the incorporated references listed in the previous paragraph define a term or terms in a manner inconsistent with either the disclosure of the present application or with any of the other incorporated references, the term or terms as used therein only control with respect to the patent document in which the term or terms are defined. Stated differently, a patentee of any one of the aforementioned incorporated references listed in the previous paragraph, when acting as his/her own lexicographer, does so only with respect to the reference in which the term or terms are defined. Accordingly, any such defined term or terms do not, in any way, define the same or similar term or terms used in the present application or in any of the other aforementioned or later-mentioned references.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a drawing that shows a front view of a representative example of an illuminated doll according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a drawing that shows a visual display region of the exemplary doll of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a drawing that shows the visual display region of the exemplary doll of FIGS. 1A and 1B, as illuminated, including a wand, also as illuminated.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of representative electrical, electronic, and optical elements of an illuminated doll.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a portion of an example of an illuminated doll, specifically a breastplate with translucent regions and with associated first and second optical layers, collectively defining a lens assembly.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show additional views of a translucent breastplate of an illuminated doll in accordance with this disclosure

FIGS. 6A through 6D show additional views of examples of first and second optical layers in accordance with this disclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show additional views of an illustrative breastplate with translucent regions in accordance with this disclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show additional views of an illustrative second optical layer in accordance with this disclosure.

FIGS. 9A through 9D show additional views of an illustrative first optical layer in accordance with this disclosure.

FIGS. 10-12 are photographs of an optical layer as found in a commercial embodiment of the present disclosure, with shading and highlight lines added to emphasize the structure of this optical layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Examples of an illuminated doll according to the present disclosure are shown in FIGS. 1A-9D. Unless otherwise specified, an illuminated doll may, but is not required to, contain at least one of the structures, components, functionalities, and/or variations described, illustrated, and/or incorporated herein. “Doll” herein includes action figures as well as figurative and non-figurative toys.

This disclosure describes illuminated dolls that include an internal light source and an associated optical assembly. The light source and optical assembly may be located inside the doll, e.g., within a hollow cavity of the torso of the doll. The cavity may be covered by a translucent breastplate to allow transmission of light to the viewer. A light source such as one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may have an activating switch, a power supply, and associated electronics adapted to flash, dim, pulse, or otherwise modulate light emitted by the light source.

The doll may include a movable appendage, such as an arm, operatively attached to a switch that activates the light source. Raising the arm, for example, may turn on the light source, and lowering the arm may turn off the light source.

The optical assembly includes optical elements such as lenses that may be configured as one or more compound lenses. These optical elements may refract, reflect, diffract, or otherwise modify light generated by the light source. The optical elements create a sparkling, magical, dynamic visual effect displayed by the doll. For example, a light source positioned near the back of the hollow cavity may transmit light through a compound lens that modifies the light. This light may in turn pass through another compound lens that further modifies the light. This light may then pass through the breastplate. Modifying the light electronically and/or optically may create a sparkling, dazzling, playful light show, shining out of the doll, amazing and delighting a child or other viewer.

In various embodiments, the light source and/or a compound lens may be movable, e.g., so that the viewer can modify the light by moving the light source and/or compound lens within the doll. A doll may further include a sound source, such as a speaker. Electronics within the doll may play music and/or sound effects through the speaker. Sound and lighting effects may be coordinated with each other. For example, the light source may pulse to the beat of a song played by the sound source. Some embodiments may include additional features. For example, the arm that activates the light source may hold a magic wand that includes a second light source, activated in coordination with the light source and/or sound source mentioned previously.

With specific reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, an illuminated doll 10 may be an action figure or toy configured to resemble a person or a fanciful or fictional character. Doll 10 may include structural elements, electrical elements, and optical elements.

Structural elements of doll 10 may include various parts that provide functional and/or decorative form. In the representative example of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, doll 10 presents a humanoid appearance and accordingly has a torso 12, head 14, first arm 16A, and second arm 16B, as well as a first leg and second leg (hidden under the doll's dress 17). The external configuration of doll 10, and thus the presence, absence, appearance, and behavior of members, such as, head, arms, and legs, may depend on the particular character modeled by the doll and may differ from the example shown in the figures. Torso 12, head 14, arms 16A and 16B, legs, and other parts may be parts or elements formed of molded plastic, for example, and may have features and decorations appropriate to the figure represented by doll 10. Anatomical terms such as “head,” “arm,” and “leg” are used herein as familiar and intuitive references and are not intended to limit the structure or appearance of doll 10. The molding or other structure that defines torso 12 may be referred to as a housing.

Doll 10 may have a visual display region 20, best shown in FIGS. 1B and 2. In the example illustrated, visual display region 20 is a portion of a front surface of torso 12. Light from a light source inside doll 10 may be transmitted through display region 20, creating a sparkling, dynamic visual output to delight and amuse the viewer.

Torso 12 of doll 10 may function as a central structure or point of attachment for appendages, such as, head 14, arms 16A and 16B, and legs. Torso 12 may be at least partly hollow. With reference also to FIG. 3, which shows an abstracted schematic diagram of doll 10, the interior volume within torso 12 may be referred to as a cavity 22. Cavity 22 may provide a wholly or partly concealed hollow space within doll 10 that can hold other parts of doll 10, as will be described in more detail below.

Cavity 22 may have an opening 24 that may have matched or fitted cover, referred to as breastplate 26. Breastplate 26 (shown in isolation in FIGS. 7A and 7B) may function as a door or window to allow access to or visibility into cavity 22. For example, breastplate 26 may be implemented as a hinged cover that provides access to cavity 22, e.g., so that a user can replace batteries stored within doll 10. Breastplate 26 may be wholly or partly translucent, e.g., having one or more translucent regions situated to allow transmission of light from the interior of cavity 22 as described below. In some embodiments, breastplate 26 forms a translucent window mounted on an external-facing surface of a toy, and light shines and glows through that window. The translucent window of breastplate 26 preferably is configured in a shape of a part of torso 12.

Doll 10 may include electrical and/or electronic elements. For example, doll 10 may include a power source 30, a light source 32 connected to power source 30, a switch 36, and electronic devices 38. In some embodiments, doll 10 may also include a sound source 34, such as, a speaker.

Power source 30 or power supply 30 may be any source of electrical power, e.g., a battery. Power source 30 may be disposed within cavity 22 or elsewhere and may include a structure that allows for removing and replacing batteries. Power source 30 may include electrical conductors (not shown) to carry electrical current from power source 30 to powered devices such as light source 32. Power source 30 may include associated electrical or electronic parts, e.g., resistors or capacitors (not shown), e.g., to regulate electrical power as appropriate to light source 32, sound source 34, or other electrical parts of doll 10.

Light source 32 may be any source of visible light. For example, light source 32 may include one or more LED lights. In some embodiments, light source 32 may include an array of LEDs of a selected color or of different colors, in order to add interest to the light show generated by illuminated doll 10.

In an embodiment, light source 32 may be moveable. For example, a lever connected to light source 32 may project through the back of doll 10, allowing the viewer to move light source 32. This movement may allow for an interactive play of light at visual display region 20, for example.

Switch 36 may be any device that can activate or de-activate light source 32. For example, switch 36 may be a contact switch electrically connected to at least power source 30 and light source 32 and operatively connected to a movable first arm 16A. In this example, switch 36 may be configured to be electrically open when first arm 16A is in a lowered position, adjacent torso 12, and electrically closed when first arm 16A is in a raised position. In this configuration, lifting arm 16A may turn on light source 32, and lowering arm 16A may turn off light source 32, allowing the viewer to activate or de-activate the light show emitted by illuminated doll 10. If other powered devices such as sound source 34 are present, switch 36 may similarly control those devices.

An appendage such as arm 16A operatively connected to switch 36 may include a spring, e.g., to return the appendage and thereby switch 36 to a selected position. For example, a spring may return or bias switch 36 to an open or OFF position, except when pushed closed or ON by the viewer.

Many types of devices may function as switch 36. For example, any appendage (e.g., arm, head, leg) may be operatively connected to switch 36 and serve to activate the visual display. For example, a pressure switch 36 may be activated by squeezing a selected portion of doll 10. For another example, a timer or sound-sensitive device may function as switch 36. For yet another example, a push button on a front or back of a torso of the doll 10 may function as switch 36. An arm 16 or other structure operatively connected to switch 36 may be referred to as an actuator. Stated differently, actuator 36 operably couples arm 16 to activation of light source 32.

Doll 10 may include electronic devices 38 adapted to control light source 32 and other powered devices (if present). Electronic devices 38 (also referred to as electronics or electronic controls) may include a microprocessor or microcontroller, volatile memory such as RAM, and non-volatile memory such as flash memory. Electronic devices 38 may further include operating instructions, such as programs stored in the non-volatile memory, and data, such as light patterns, sound effects, and songs or music stored in non-volatile memory.

Non-volatile memory may be installable or updatable. For example, illuminated doll 10 may include a connector (not shown) that allows the viewer to insert a component that includes a memory that provides new program instructions or new data, such as new programmed light patterns, songs, music, or sound effects. A programmed light pattern may refer to any illumination effect obtained from light source 32, such as but not limited to turning one or more lights (e.g., individual LEDs) ON or OFF, dimming one or more lights, flashing or pulsing one or more lights, and so on.

Illuminated doll 10 includes an optical assembly 40 that transmits light emitted by light source 32 to display region 20. For example, light from a light source 32 disposed toward the back side of cavity 22 may pass through second optical layer 42, then through a first optical layer 44 adjacent breastplate 26, and then through a translucent region 48 of breastplate 26 located on a surface of torso 12 for display to the viewer. Passing light through at least one optical layer dramatically enhances the visual impact of the light show of illuminated doll 10. For example, the multiple optical elements in an optical layer may split light from each light (e.g., each LED) in light source 32 into multiple highlights. A given number of actual lights consequently may look like a larger number of lights. Three LEDs, for example, may have the decorative impact of hundreds of LEDs. Embodiments with a movable light source 32 and/or an optical layer may further increase the sense of dynamic motion in a sparkling light show.

In some embodiments, the light source 32 is at least one LED mounted to the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). The surface of the PCB may be coated with a white optical layer, such as a white solder resist. The white optical layer may help reflect more light out the front surface of the torso 12 and help to prevent the color of the underlying PCB substrate from influencing the color of the emitted light.

An optical element 46 may be a convex lens, concave lens, prism, mirror, or other light modifier, alone or in any combination. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an optical element 46 may be a substantially spherical lens molded or otherwise formed from a translucent material. An optical element 46 may be colored, e.g., to provide a colored or multicolored effect from a white or colored light source 32. An optical element 46 may include reflective elements, e.g., internal glitter to increase scattering. An optical element 46 may include faceted or reflective surfaces or may be shaped or have one or more portions shaped to project one or more patterns, like a star or a heart. A plurality of optical elements 46 may form compound lens structures, e.g., first optical layer 44 and second optical layer 42. Each optical element 46 of the plurality of optical elements may be the same size or may be a different size from one or more other optical elements 46.

First optical layer 44 may be an assembly (shown in isolation in FIGS. 9A-9D) that includes a plurality of optical elements 46. As shown in FIGS. 3 4, and 5C, first optical layer 44, within cavity 22 and adjacent the interior surface of breastplate 26, may approximately follow the contour of breastplate 26. In some embodiments, the multiple optical elements 46 of first optical layer 44 may be a loose collection sharing a collective space. In other embodiments, the multiple optical elements 46 of first optical layer 44 may be created by molding the optical layer 44 as an integral unit with multiple optical elements 46 and/or by affixing multiple optical elements, e.g., with an adhesive and/or a translucent binding layer. Each optical element 46 may focus a single light source (e.g., a particular LED) as a distinct highlight, increasing the visual interest of the light display.

Stated slightly differently, first optical layer 44 is integrally molded from translucent material, including a plurality of translucent co-joined spherical bodies, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9D. First optical layer 44 may thereby define a primary light-diffusing lens 44 that is configured to diffuse and transmit light from light source 32. Furthermore, this primary light-diffusing lens 44 is torso-shaped, so that the primary light-diffusing lens 44 defines a substantial portion of a front of the torso, as shown by FIG. 4.

A close study of FIGS. 9C and 9D shows that many of the co-joined spherical bodies are defined by substantially hemispherical optical elements embedded within a translucent binding layer. A substantially hemispherical optical element on one face of the binding layer is matched with a substantially hemispherical optical element on another face of the binding layer, collectively defining a single spherical body. Thus, FIG. 4 also shows a primary light-diffusing lens 44 of substantially hemispherical optical elements embedded within a translucent binding layer, operatively placed between the light source (not shown) and a translucent visual display region 26 configured to display light from the light source to the surface of the toy 10. Two substantially hemispherical optical elements cooperate to define a single spherical translucent body. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, primary light diffusing layer 44 has a first structure conforming to the shape of visual display region 26.

A very effective lens assembly may be created by the combination of first optical layer 44, fixed within cavity 22, and a translucent window defined by breastplate 26. First optical layer 44 acts as a light-diffusing layer, and is formed from a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies 46, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9D. The translucent window defined by breastplate 26 is configured in the shape of a part of the torso, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. A light source, not shown in FIG. 4, is mounted inside the torso of the doll, and light-diffusing layer 44 is interposed between the translucent window 26 and the light source, as shown by FIG. 4.

Some embodiments include a second optical layer 42 (shown in isolation in FIGS. 8A and 8B), where the second optical layer 42 may be an assembly generally similar to first optical layer 44, but preferably includes a different geometric structure. Second optical layer 42 thus may include a plurality of optical elements 46 functioning as a compound lens. The plurality of optical elements 46 of second optical layer 42 may be a loose collection sharing a collective space or may be a molded integral unit. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, second optical layer 42 is offset from first optical layer 44 by a specified offset distance D, so that second optical layer 42 is situated closer to the back of cavity 22 of torso 12 and closer to light source 32. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, second optical layer 42 is configured as a substantially flat or planar array of optical elements 46. Furthermore, first optical layer 44 may thereby define a primary light-diffusing layer 44, and second optical layer 42 defines a secondary light-diffusing layer interposed between the light source and primary light-diffusing layer 44. Stated differently, secondary light-diffusing layer 42 is placed between the light source and primary light-diffusing layer 44.

An optical layer 42 or 44 may be configured as a loosely or densely packed array or assembly of optical elements 46. For example, elements 46 may be arranged in a dense tiled or honeycombed arrangement, so that adjacent elements 46 touch at one or more points of contact, as best shown in FIG. 8A. This contact may increase the conduction or diffusion of light from one element 46 to neighboring elements 46, increasing the scattering, decorative impact of optical layer 42 or 44.

Elements 46 may differ in size, e.g., to facilitate a selected packing arrangement of elements 46. For example, FIG. 8A shows an optical layer 42 configured with a central optical element 146 tightly surrounded by a first ring 246 (indicated by a dash-dot-dot circle) of elements 46. In the example, center element 146 defines a spherical translucent body that is larger than the elements 46 of ring 246, which have a size selected to create a tight ring 246 without gaps in the points of contact between any adjacent elements 46 along the circumference of ring 246. First ring 246 is in turn surrounded by a second ring 346 (also indicated by a dash-dot-dot circle) of elements 46. The elements of ring 346, like those of ring 246, are sized to create a tightly fitting arrangement of second ring 346 against first ring 246, again without gaps along the circumference of ring 346. Rings 246 and 346, which are concentric on center element 146, form an expanding arrangement of mutually tangential elements 46, so that each adjacent element 46 maintains contact with all of its neighbors in rings 246 and 346. Each adjacent pair of elements 46 in ring 246 thus abuts an adjacent triad of elements 46 in the larger ring 346.

An optical layer 42 or 44 may be flexible, e.g., to bend along with the flexion of a flexible doll 10. An optical layer 42 or 44 may be compared to the compound eye of an insect. The double refraction of the light through two arrays of compound lens has the effect of multiplying the surface area and visual impact created by a relatively small number of actual lights.

An optical layer 42, 44 may be referred to as a lens, refraction device, diffraction device, or light-diffusing layer. Layer 44 may form a monolayer of optical elements, embedded in a translucent binding layer. More specifically, layer 44 is a primary light-diffusing layer, preferably formed from a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies 46, as shown separately in FIGS. 9A-9D. Layer 42 may also form a monolayer of optical elements, embedded in a translucent binding layer. More specifically, layer 42 is a secondary light-diffusing layer, preferably formed from a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies 46, as shown separately in FIGS. 8A-8B. In those embodiments with both optical layer 42 and optical layer 44, layer 42 may be a first monolayer, and layer 44 may be a second monolayer. Primary light-diffusing layer 44 is interposed between a primary lens in the form of breastplate 26 and a light source 32 inside torso 10. Primary light-diffusing layer 44 has a first structure, which preferably is torso shaped as shown in FIGS. 9A-9D, and secondary light-diffusing layer 42 has a second structure, shaped differently from the first structure, as shown in FIGS. 8A-8B, when compared to FIGS. 9A-9D.

In an embodiment, doll 10 may include structure (not shown) to allow motion of second optical layer 42. For example, second optical layer may be mounted to a flexible holder operatively connected to a lever protruding through the back of torso 12. The viewer, by moving the lever, may flex or move second optical layer 42 in relation to light source 32 and first optical layer 44. This motion may cause the highlights transmitted through breastplate 26 to dance in a lively dynamic fashion.

With reference to FIG. 4, breastplate 26 may function as a cover or window in opening 24 of torso 12. Breastplate 26 may have one or more translucent regions 48 situated to allow transmission of light out of cavity 22 and thereby create visual display region 20. In the example of FIG. 4, 7A, and 7B, translucent regions 48 may take the form of a series of small linear windows molded, inset, or cut into breastplate 26. Preferably, the series of small linear windows define translucent linear features that may be “edge-lit” to have a glowing appearance and/or further diffuse the transmitted light. The series of linear windows may be formed in patterns, such as a floral pattern, that the edge-lighting enhances. Breastplate 26 may be referred to as a window, and visual display region 20 may be referred to as illumination area 20.

In an embodiment, illuminated doll 10 may include a sound source 34 such as a speaker. Sound source 34 may be in electrical communication with electronic devices 38 and power source 30. For example, electronic devices 38 may include a sound-generating circuit capable of playing music, songs, and sound effects stored in non-volatile memory. These sounds may be coordinated with the operation of illuminated doll 10. For example, activating doll 10 by raising arm 16 to close switch 36 may trigger a rising glissando or other sound effect. For another example, sounds may be coordinated with programmed light patterns also controlled by electronic devices 38. For example, the light pattern may pulse to the beat of a song. Light patterns and songs may play for about 12 seconds, for example.

In an embodiment, illuminated doll 10 may include additional illuminated features. For example, an arm 16, that (via switch 36) energizes and activates light source 32 and/or sound source 34, may include a magic wand 50 feature that includes an additional light source 52. This second light source 52 may be coordinated with the other operations of doll 10. For example, the second light source on wand 50 may flash in conjunction with (or in opposition to) light source 32.

FIGS. 5A through 8B show additional views of the breastplate 26, optical layers 42 and 44, and other structures of doll 10.

In certain commercial embodiments of the present illuminated doll, as shown in FIGS. 10-12, a torso-shaped lens is provided that contains both spherical elements and hemispherical elements. These elements are found in multiple different sizes, and each particular size of lens element is separated from other similarly sized lens elements. Some of the lens elements are only on one side of the translucent torso, and are therefore only hemispherical in shape. Some lens elements differ in distance from the primary axis of the doll, so that some spherical elements are formed from a larger hemispherical element on an exterior face of the torso shape, with a smaller hemispherical element on an interior face of the torso, or vice-versa.

The following paragraphs may provide further information regarding example embodiments.

(A1) A toy including a visual display region, the region configured to produce a visual output and comprising: a translucent window mounted on an external-facing surface of the toy and covering a cavity; a light source operatively mounted within the cavity, and a refraction and/or diffraction device positioned between the light source and the translucent window, the refraction and/or diffraction device including a monolayer of optical elements.

(A1a) The toy of paragraph (A1), wherein the monolayer of optical elements are embedded in a translucent binding layer.

(A1b) The toy of paragraph (A1), wherein the optical elements are spherical lenses.

(A2) The toy of paragraph (A1b), wherein each of the spherical lenses measure between 0.1 mm and 20 mm.

(A3) The toy of paragraph (A1b), wherein each of the spherical lenses measure between 1 mm and 10 mm.

(A4) The toy of paragraph (A1), wherein the monolayer of optical elements has a first structure, and wherein the toy further comprises a second refraction and/or diffraction device including a second monolayer of optical elements having a second structure shaped differently from the first structure.

(A5) The toy of paragraph (A4), the monolayer of optical elements being substantially planar, and the second monolayer of optical elements having a shape conforming to the shape of the window.

(A6) The toy of paragraph (A1), wherein the light source is operatively connected to electronics and a power supply.

(A7) The toy of paragraph (A1) further comprising electronics, a power supply, and a sound source operatively connected to the electronics and the power supply.

(A8) The toy of paragraph (A7) further comprising an actuator, wherein the electronics are operatively connected to the light source, sound source, and actuator, and manipulation of the actuator causes activation of the light source and sound source through the electronics.

(A9) The toy of paragraph (A8), wherein the electronics include a controller that produces of a series of coordinated audio and/or visual phenomena via the sound source and the light source.

(A10) The toy of paragraph (A1), wherein the toy is a humanoid doll, wherein the visual display region includes part of a torso of the doll, and the translucent window is configured in a shape of the part of the torso.

(A11) The toy of paragraph (A10) wherein the doll further includes an arm and an actuator operably coupling the arm to activation of the light source.

(B1) A lens assembly for a doll with an illuminated torso comprising a primary light-diffusing layer formed from a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies; and a primary lens defining a substantial portion of a front of the torso; and wherein the primary light-diffusing layer is interposed between the primary lens and a light source inside the torso.

(B1a) The lens assembly of (B1) further comprising a secondary light-diffusing layer interposed between the light source and the primary light-diffusing layer.

(B1b) The lens assembly of (B1a), wherein the secondary light-diffusing layer is formed from a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies.

(B2) The lens assembly of (B1a), wherein the primary light-diffusing layer has a first structure, and the secondary light-diffusing layer has a second structure shaped differently from the first structure.

(C1) A doll comprising: a power source; a light source connected to the power source; a torso including a primary light-diffusing lens integrally molded from translucent material, the primary light-diffusing lens including a plurality of translucent co-joined spherical bodies; wherein the primary light-diffusing lens is configured to diffuse and transmit light from the light source.

(C2) The doll of the paragraph (C1), wherein the primary light-diffusing lens defines a substantial portion of a front of the torso.

(C3) The doll of the paragraph (C1), further comprising a breastplate having one or more translucent regions situated to allow transmission of light.

(C3a) The doll of the paragraph (C3), wherein the breastplate further includes one or more translucent linear features that further diffuse the transmitted light.

(C4) The doll of the paragraph (C3), wherein the plurality of translucent regions take the form of a series of small linear windows.

(C5) The doll of the paragraph (C1), further comprising a secondary light-diffusing lens integrally molded from translucent plastic, the secondary light-diffusing lens including a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies and interposed between the light source and the primary light-diffusing lens.

(D1). An illumination area comprising: a translucent window covering a housing, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) operatively mounted within the housing, and a plurality of optical refraction diffraction devices positioned between the LEDs and the window, each diffraction device including an array of spherical lenses.

(E1) A diffraction device comprising: a plurality of light-refracting or diffracting layers, each layer including a monolayer of spherical lenses embedded in a translucent binding layer, the device positioned operatively in a housing between a plurality of light emitting diodes and a translucent window

(F1) A light and sound producing device comprising: a power supply with electronic control enabling synchronized production of a light and sound sequence upon activation by an actuator, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) operatively connected to the electronics and mounted within a housing, a window forming enclosure of the housing, and a plurality of light refraction or diffraction devices mounted between the LEDs and the window, each refraction or diffraction device including an array of spherical lenses arranged substantially in a monolayer embedded in a translucent binding layer

(G1) A molded lens for a doll with an illuminated torso comprising a primary light-diffusing layer integrally molded from translucent plastic, defining a plurality of translucent co-joined spherical bodies.

(G2) The molded lens of the paragraph (G1), further comprising a secondary light-diffusing layer integrally molded from translucent plastic, defining a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies. The molded lens of paragraph (F1), wherein the primary lens defines a substantial portion of a front of a torso of a doll; and wherein the secondary lens is smaller than the primary lens, and interposed the primary lens and a light source inside the torso.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth herein encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Each example defines an embodiment disclosed in the foregoing disclosure, but any one example does not necessarily encompass all features or combinations that may be eventually claimed. Where the description recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such description includes one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Further, ordinal indicators, such as first, second or third, for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated. 

1. A lens assembly for a doll with an illuminated torso, comprising: a light-diffusing layer formed from a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies; and a translucent window configured in a shape of a part of the torso; wherein the light-diffusing layer is interposed between the translucent window and a light source inside the torso.
 2. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the light-diffusing layer defines a primary light-diffusing layer, and the assembly further comprises a secondary light-diffusing layer interposed between the light source and the primary light-diffusing layer.
 3. The lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the secondary light-diffusing layer is formed from a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies.
 4. The lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the primary light-diffusing layer has a first structure, and the secondary light-diffusing layer has a second structure shaped differently from the first structure.
 5. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein at least some of the co-joined spherical translucent bodies differ in size, so that at least one spherical translucent body is larger than another spherical translucent body.
 6. The doll of clam 1, wherein the translucent window includes one or more translucent linear features that further diffuse the transmitted light.
 7. The doll of claim 6, wherein the plurality of translucent linear regions take the form of a series of small linear windows.
 8. A doll comprising: a power source; a light source connected to the power source; a torso including a primary light-diffusing lens integrally molded from translucent material, the primary light-diffusing lens including a plurality of translucent co-joined spherical bodies; wherein the primary light-diffusing lens is configured to diffuse and transmit light from the light source.
 9. The doll of claim 8, wherein the primary light-diffusing lens defines a substantial portion of a front of the torso.
 10. The doll of the claim 8, further comprising a breastplate having one or more translucent regions situated to allow transmission of light.
 11. The doll of claim 10, wherein the breastplate further includes one or more translucent linear features that further diffuse the transmitted light.
 12. The doll of claim 10, wherein the plurality of translucent regions take the form of a series of small linear windows.
 13. The doll of claim 8, further comprising a secondary light-diffusing lens integrally molded from translucent plastic, the secondary light-diffusing lens including a plurality of co-joined spherical translucent bodies and interposed between the light source and the primary light-diffusing lens.
 14. The lens assembly of claim 8, wherein at least some of the co-joined spherical translucent bodies differ in size, so that at least one spherical translucent body is larger than another spherical translucent body.
 15. A toy comprising: a power source, a light source connected to the power source, and a visual display region comprising a primary light-diffusing lens of substantially hemispherical optical elements embedded within a translucent binding layer, operatively placed between the light source and a translucent visual display region configured to display light from the light source to the surface of the toy.
 16. The toy of claim 15, wherein at least one matched pair of hemispheres cooperate to define a spherical translucent body.
 17. The lens assembly of claim 15, wherein at least some of the co-joined spherical translucent bodies differ in size, so that at least one spherical translucent body is larger than another spherical translucent body.
 18. The toy of claim 15, wherein the primary light diffusing layer has a first structure conforming to the shape of the visual display region.
 19. The toy of claim 15, wherein the light diffusing region further comprises a secondary light diffusing layer with a secondary structure.
 20. The toy of claim 19, wherein the secondary light diffusing layer is placed between the light source and the primary light diffusing layer. 